Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-11-23
The Topaoeo-Tax Must Go.

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The Tobacco-Tax Must Go.
The annual meeting of the New Eng
land Tobacco Growers Association was
held in Hartford, Conn, on the Goth of
last month. Since that meeting the
secretary has issued a circular in which,
after claiming that the association was
the leader in the movement TO secure a
protective tariff on sced-leaf tobacco.
he adds that it has now undertaken the
still more important work of inducing
Congress to abolish all internal-reyenue
taxeson tobacco and all restrictions on the
sale of tobacco. The planters of Virginia
viii welcome into the ranks of the oppo.
nents of the internal taxes on tobacco
these New England tobacco-growers.
Perhaps we cannot rightfully claim TO
be able thus to welcome them, seeing
that they claim that they we're the pio-
neers in this good work and are waiting
to welcome Us into it. This point is not
material, however. We quote their
claim. 1t is in these words
"Other organizations of growers, not
only in the seed-leaf growing States of
the North, but throughout the entire
South, are following closely after the lend
ership of The New England association,
and most powerful demand for tax
abolition is being worked up that will
compel success"
But as the association is only five
years old, it can hardly be the pioneer
inthe movement for the abolition of all
taxes upon tobacco. Let this be as it
may, the association is now and have
for three years been working for just
what the tobacco-growers IN Virginia are
working for. Three years ago that asso-
citation made the following good points
against the tax on tobacco:
"Tobacco is the only agricultural pro-
duction of our country which pays tax.
This intcrnal-revenue tax operates as an
indirect tax of about twelve cents per
pound on orr product. We can see no
Just reason why the law taxing manufac-
tured tobacco and cigars should be con-
tinued. The idea is not American. 1t is
opposed to the spirit of our institutions
and the traditions of our country. It's
only justification was the cXlgency OF
the Governmental time of war. The con-
tinuance OF the policy cannot be jhsti-
fed by any sound reason, unless Con
gress means to perpetrate system Of
class legislation for the especial benefit
of wealthy monopolists. II is oppressive
TO small manufacturers, producers and
labor classes dependant upon this in
dustry for support.
"In conclusion we ask for the abOli-
ton of the internal-revenue tax on to-
bacco and cigars and all the machinery
of the law connected Herewith.
The Virginia planters will endorse that
statement of the reasons which ought to
induce Congress to abolish all taxes on
tobacco. The president of the New
England Tobacco Growers Association
in his annual address says:
81 believe that the arguments then
used are sound to-day, and that there
has been great change of opinion on
this question in the three years that have
followed. Leading statesmen who have
been opposed to the measure are now its
friends"
"In response to the demands of the
country efforts will be made to reduce the
surplus revenue by the new Congress.
All efforts TO reduce that surplus will
bring questions of tax abolition and tariff
reduction to the front, and our associa-
ton should be prepared to meet them,
because of the tendency in Congress to
ignore the interests of agriculture.
"Ours was the pioneer organization of
tobscco-growers. Others are growing
up in various parts of the country. The
latest that has come to our knowledge is
located in Florida. They all continue
to look to us for leadership, and are ready
TO work with us for the common good.
ave should place ourselves in COM
munication with as many farmers organ
izations as possible in the South and
West. This will promote good feeling
and broader views. 1t will also tend to
prevent opposition and antagonism of
interests. The Farmers Alliance, a
southwestern organization, has raised
large fund, and will probably be repre-
sented in Washington next winter"
The association adopted new resolu
ton demanding the abolition of all in
ternal taxes on tobacco and all restric-
tons on the trade" in short, say they,
"we demand free leaf of our own grow
ing"
Evidently the movement in favor Of
the abolition of all taxes on tobacco is
increasing in strength.